On April 26, 2014, the California College of the Arts hosted the annual Visual & Critical Studies Thesis Symposium. The VCS Symposium is a daylong public event in which the VCS cohort presents innovative and transformative research in the field of visual studies.

In addition to the Symposium presentation, the capstone project of the MA in Visual and Critical Studies program also includes a written thesis, preparation of an exhibition poster for display during the season of graduate thesis events, and publication in the Sightlines journal.